A high-profile trial that was over before it began is set for a do-over next week in Fort Worth.

Federal District Judge Mark Pittman ordered a retrial of nine defendants accused in an alleged attack at a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detention center in Alvarado, Texas to begin on Monday, Feb. 23.

Jury selection will start at 9 a.m., with opening arguments after 14 jurors and alternates are empaneled.

The rules for the new trial are more restrictive than the first. Neither side will be allowed to question prospective jurors during voir dire; instead they will submit questions to the court and the judge will ask them.

In the first trial, each defense team had ten minutes for opening statements. That has been reduced to eight minutes. Each of their closing arguments can last no more than 12 minutes. The government is allowed 30 minutes for opening statements and 45 minutes for closing arguments.

Pittman said that he is exercising his right to limit those times “in order to prevent unnecessary expense or delay.” When declaring the mistrial on Tuesday, he said the proceedings had already cost hundreds of thousands of tax dollars.

Mistrial during jury selection

Jury selection was underway in the case on Tuesday, when Pittman abruptly sent prospective jurors out of the courtroom. He had noticed that defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton was wearing a T-shirt under her blazer with images of protesters on it. 

Pittman said he saw no choice but to declare a mistrial because there was no way to know how many of the potential jurors had noticed the shirt or had been prejudiced by the shirt. 

When the judge returned from a short recess, he said he had gone over caselaw to see how to rule. He had received word that one of the defense counsel or staff was wearing an anti-ICE lapel pin. No one came forward to admit that.

The judge then called Clayton up to the podium and made a note that she had turned her shirt inside out. He asked her what the graphics portrayed on the shirt, and she said Martin Luther King, Shirley Chisholm, and other civil rights protesters. 

The judge said that the rules of conduct for trial say no graphic tees can be worn. He told the court that clothing cannot be used to sway the jury or provide testimony. 

He said he had considered admonishing potential jurors, but that “there was no way of knowing if you can remove the skunk from the jury box.” 

The judge also said that Clayton had tried to introduce a poster board showing scenes of protest during voir dire without first showing it to the judge or to the prosecution, which is against court rules.

Pittman said he would pursue a show-cause hearing for Clayton after the trial about her violation of the rules of conduct. 

COLLIN COUNTY, Texas – A 28-year-old Princeton man was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to repeatedly beating and starving his six young children, leaving some with permanent scars and severe malnutrition, authorities said.

What we know:

Kevin Dixon was sentenced on seven counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced.

District Judge Kim Laseter sentenced Dixon to life in prison on five counts related to physical abuse and 25 years on two counts related to malnourishment. 

Due to a prior felony conviction, Dixon faced a punishment ranging from 15 to 99 years, or life in prison on each count.

What they’re saying:

Authorities said the abuse came to light after the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contacted the family in February 2025. 

Five of the children, all under age 10 and as young as two, had numerous marks and permanent scars and appeared severely underweight for their ages.

According to officials, the agency had previously warned Dixon in 2021 about failing to provide adequate living conditions and using excessive discipline.

“This father brutally beat and starved his own young children, some toddlers, leaving permanent scars and lasting trauma,” Willis said in a statement. “A tough sentence, like life in prison, is what it takes to protect vulnerable kids and ensure those who inflict such harm face full accountability.”

Local perspective:

After seeing the children’s condition in 2025, officers with the Princeton Police Department opened an investigation. 

The children were interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, where they described being deprived of food and repeatedly struck with belts and cords, including one child who was beaten for taking a candy bar.

One detective documented extensive injuries and scarring on the children, including the 2-year-old, officials said.

The backstory:

Dixon, who had a prior 2015 robbery conviction for which he served prison time, pleaded guilty to all seven counts. 

He will serve life sentences on the five counts involving physical abuse and 25-year sentences on the two counts involving malnourishment.

A 28-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the repeated physical abuse and starvation of his young children, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced Wednesday.

Kevin Dixon, of Princeton, was convicted of seven counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, according to the Collin County DA’s Office. 

DFPS report leads to investigation

In 2021, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services received a report that Dixon had failed to provide his small children with adequate living conditions, and Dixon was warned against excessive discipline, officials said. 

According to court records, in February 2025, DFPS contacted the Dixon family again and found that five children, who were under the age of 10, including a 2-year-old, had numerous marks and permanent scars on their bodies. DFPS also said the children were severely malnourished, weighing far less than normal for their ages.

After being notified of the children’s condition, the Princeton Police Department launched an investigation.

Police said during an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, the children detailed the physical abuse and how Dixon wouldn’t feed them and repeatedly beat them with belts and cords.

One child told authorities they were beaten for taking a candy bar.

More evidence revealed at trial

Following his arrest and charges, Dixon pleaded guilty to seven counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, the Collin County DA’s Office said. 

During the punishment phase of the hearing, evidence of Dixon’s prior 2015 robbery conviction was presented. Due to his prior felony conviction, Dixon faced between 15 and 99 years or life in prison for his crimes against his children

The Collin County jury sentenced Dixon to life in prison on each of the five counts alleging physical abuse, and 25 years on two counts alleging malnourishment.

In a statement following Dixon’s sentence, Willis said his office will always continue to stand up for children who can’t defend themselves.

“A tough sentence like life in prison is what it takes to protect vulnerable kids and ensure those who inflict such harm face full accountability,” said Willis.